Best virtual dollar card in Nigeria

Spending time in Nigeria and want a way to make easier international payments? A virtual dollar card could be the answer, letting you buy and spend in US dollars.

But how do these virtual dollar cards work, and which is the best one for UK expats living in Nigeria? Find out here in our handy guide, where we’ll run through all of the most popular options available right now.

What is a Virtual Dollar Card?

A virtual dollar card is a digital payment card denominated in US dollars (USD). It only exists online, unlike a physical debit or credit card. You can use a virtual dollar card to make payments in USD for international transactions, such as:

• Shopping on Amazon US
• Booking a US flight
• Paying an international bill
• Signing up for a Netflix subscription.

Some cards also let you make international transfers to friends, family and other recipients in US dollars.

There are many benefits on offer with virtual USD cards, starting with how easy they are to create and control. You can usually do it and start spending in just a few clicks, without needing to wait for a physical card to arrive in the post.

They’re convenient to use online, and secure too - as there’s no risk of loss or theft. Many cards require you to pre-load funds, which means you can only spend what’s on the card. This can be helpful if you’re on a budget.

Providers of virtual dollar cards also promote them as a cheaper alternative to using your bank or bank-issued debit card for international transactions. They can potentially help you save money on foreign exchange costs too.

Top Virtual Dollar Cards in Nigeria

Now, let’s take a look at what kinds of virtual dollar cards are available in Nigeria. The following are a selection of the best based on attractive features like low fees, accessibility and reliability.

Bitnob

Nigeria-based fintech company Bitnob is primarily a Bitcoin trading platform, but it also offers virtual USD cards and lets you make cross-border transfers.

It has a money transfer app which lets you do everything from ordering your virtual card, buying and selling Bitcoin and sending money between African countries and worldwide.

ALAT by Wema Bank

ALAT bills itself as “Africa’s first fully digital bank”.¹ Owned by Nigerian commercial bank Wema Bank, ALAT offers a wide range of features including accounts, transfer services and a popular mobile banking app.

Its virtual dollar card is prepaid (so you’ll need to top it up) and lets you buy goods and services in USD online. You can create one when you join ALAT as a customer.

Eversend

Headquartered in Nigeria, Eversend offers a multi-currency app which lets you send money internationally as well as converting between currencies when you need to.

You can also create a virtual dollar card linked to your Eversend wallet, which can be used for spending online in USD. You can keep and use each card for 3 years before it expires,² and use the Eversend app to freeze and unfreeze the card if you need to.

Payday

Fintech firm Payday, which is based in both Rwanda and Canada, offers global digital accounts in 20+ currencies including USD, EUR and GBP.³ Each is linked to the Payday Mastercard, which can be used online anywhere that Mastercard is accepted.

You can use your account to send money, but only within Nigeria. However, you can receive payments from anywhere in the world⁴ - making it a good option for freelancers and remote workers with global clients or employers.

Chipper Cash

Chipper Cash is a popular money transfer app operating in ​Nigeria, Ghana, Rwanda and Uganda, as well as the US.⁵ It offers fast, low cost transfers both locally and internationally, with payments linked to any mobile money account or bank account you choose.

You can also create virtual dollar cards with Chipper Cash. These are preloaded and reloadable virtual cards designed for making international online transactions, and they can be linked to your Chipper wallet. There are some fees, however - such as a one-off fee to create the card and a monthly maintenance charge.⁶

So there you have it - a round-up of the best virtual dollar cards in Nigeria, from top picks for global freelancers like Payday to full-service digital accounts like ALAT.

Just remember to compare features and fees carefully before choosing a card, including restrictions on where you can spend or send money. You need a card that will actually save you money on international transactions, so high fees can be a turn-off.

Save when you send money to Nigeria with Wise

Looking to send money to Nigeria from the UK? Wise is fast, secure and transparent, and lets you send money worldwide at the mid-market exchange rate for low fees*.

Sending money to Nigeria with Wise involves just 3 simple steps. First, start your transfer by entering the GBP amount to send, and pay with your debit card or credit card, or send from your online banking. Next, select the recipient and pay-out method. Then, the money is delivered in NGN from Wise's local bank account.

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Sources last checked on date: 05-Jan-2025